The question concerning vulnerable EU-citizens has been widely debated in Sweden the last few years. Due to unclear legislation and strong municipal self-determination municipalities act differently regarding vulnerable EU-citizens. The purpose for the dissertation is therefore to analyse how Stockholm and Gothenburg City acts and collaborates with non-profit organisations in the question concerning vulnerable EU-citizens and whether the approaches can, according to the theory of territorial governance, be viewed as effective. The dissertation has showed that Gothenburg City has created a common action plan with surrounding municipalities in order to expand their territory. Gothenburg have also signed an IOP-agreement with several non-profit organisations in order for them to act together. The dissertation has showed that an IOP-agreement can be equated to an effective and sustainable partnership. Stockholm City on the other hand has not expanded their territory, since an equivalent interpretation of the law is important to the municipality. No IOP-agreement has been signed and a reason for this could be that the relationship between non-profit organisations in Stockholm City has historically been characterized by competition instead of trust. Due to the complex question concerning vulnerable EU-citizen, new forms of partnership has though been developed in Stockholm City.

This thesis examines the role of civil society in promoting good governance and development in Zimbabwe. This is done through a case study of the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA). Specifically, the thesis looks at the role of constitutionalism as a tool in promoting good governance and development by situating the Zimbabwean struggle for constitutional reform within the context of an unprecedented socio-economic and humanitarian crisis that engulfed Zimbabwe at the beginning of 2000. One of the central questions explored in this thesis is that of the value of the concept of civil society in understanding African post-colonial situations in general and the Zimbabwean situation in particular. The thesis looks at the history of constitutionalism in order to assess if the Zimbabwean crisis could be understood within the context of a constitutional crisis. Therefore, the thesis ventures into the complex dynamics of state-civil society relations while at the same time examining the formation, structure and programmes of the NCA. This is meant to highlight how the NCA’s internal governance system, its leadership style and accountability worked as well as if it reflected good governance or not. An analysis of NCA’s relationship with donors is also presented in order to dispel or validate claims that civil society is just a front for western interests to effect regime change in Zimbabwe. Of critical importance in this study is how civil society (represented by the NCA) interacted with the government and the opposition political parties. The NCA actively participated in opposition politics coming in the open to urge its supporters to vote for the opposition and later ditched the opposition when they had disagreements but their reputation as impartial actors had been destroyed. The thesis concludes by questioning the strategies that are used by civil society in engaging with the government and that in their present structure they should not be antagonistic to the state but should work in tandem with the state for the attainment of good governance and development. Civil society organisations should be politically neutral in their pursuit of developmental goals and ought to practice what they preach by being democratic and accountable themselves. / Development Studies / M. A. (Development Studies)

Most Small and Medium scale Enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana are notparticularly anxious about the consequences of inadequacy or lack of anyform of vulnerability management operation in their normal businesspractices. This case study research explores how a local Internet ServiceProvider (ISP) in Ghana and its local client-base can manage vulnerabilitieswith a targeted patch management practise integrated into their operations.To answer the research question “How can a SME local Internet ServiceProvider (ISP) in Accra, Ghana, assist their local customer base to integrateeffective cybersecurity vulnerability management into their operations?“,This case study comprised the Subject Matter Expert of one local ISP as well as4 other technical Subject Matter Experts of the ISP’s clients about their patchmanagement operations. This case study research revealed that most SMEs donot consider vulnerability management as a key concern in the operation oftheir organisation and therefore, proposes a way to highlight the importanceof vulnerability management whiles doing so at a cost-effective manner. Theimplications of targeted cybersecurity patch management for the local ISP andtheir client-base is also addressed by this thesis research.

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in South Africa experience one of the highest failure rates in the world with 75% to 80% of SMEs failing in their first ten years. This data suggests that few small organisations in South Africa are sustainable entities and this in turn impacts on employment and the GDP of South Africa. In order to be sustainable, organisations should be learning ones (Garvin, 1993; Marquardt in Hattingh & Smit, 2004, p2). Senge’s (1990) ground-breaking model of a learning organisation identifies the disciplines companies should practice in order to contribute to their sustainability. This model, previously researched in large global companies, is used as the basis of researching a small company in a local, South African context. This study explores whether by being a learning organisation, a small company is able to sustain itself. Senge’s concept of a learning organisation includes five disciplines. These disciplines have adult and workplace learning theories embedded in them. The study attempted to identify whether the small company drew on these learning theories in day-to-day operations and practise, and if this contributed to its development as a learning organisation. In addition to learning theories, literature reviewed included factors that impact on small business sustainability in the South African context. The study reveals an interesting blend of a business management concept (“the learning organisation”) with adult education principles that give insight into developing a small company as a learning organisation. A qualitative, ethnographic case study approach was used for this study, using an interactive model to accommodate the dynamic nature of the workplace with its variety of events and activities. Data collection took place during two intensive research periods in 2008 and 2012, in a single Johannesburg-based company. A multi-method approach was used and included observations, document analysis, questionnaires, transect walks, auto-photography, focus groups and interviews. The study revealed that a small company can ensure its sustainability by being a learning organisation, even though the company did not hold the same understanding of a learning organisation that Senge (1990) did. By practising various adult and workplace learning theories, especially the theory of communities of practice, a small company can develop the disciplines of a learning organisation. Furthermore, organisations may practise the disciplines of a learning organisation organically, without specific intent, and this may assist in their sustainability.

Notre objectif est de comprendre comment les acteurs qui prennent part à la gouvernance d’une méta-organisation interviennent dans l’émergence et le maintien d’un contexte institutionnel favorable à la confiance dans les relations inter-organisationnelles (RIO). Nous réalisons deux études de cas qualitatifs de clusters des industries culturelles et créatives, en France et au Canada. Pour le cas français nous pointons les difficultés relatives à la confiance et le travail postérieur de construction de nouvelles frontières, avec une conciliation entre besoins économiques et esprit de création artistique. Pour le cas canadien : un climat initial peu propice à la confiance et un travail postérieur d’institutionnalisation de l’idée que le cluster agit dans l’intérêt de toute l’industrie. Nous proposons un cadre conceptuel pour analyser les pratiques de création et maintien d’un contexte institutionnel favorable à la confiance dans les RIO, dans une perspective structurationniste (relation récursive institutions/action). Nous distinguons des dimensions du contexte et deux types de pratiques : « d’activation » (les acteurs font intentionnellement appel à des éléments institutionnels jugés pertinents vis-à-vis de la confiance par rapport à l’interaction) ; et « de structuration », (ils structurent progressivement les bases institutionnelles de la confiance pour des interactions, actuelles et futures). Nous proposons des éléments pour une « compétence liée à la confiance », comme une capacité liée au déploiement, dans une manière perçue comme authentique, de comportements liés à la confiance et jugés appropriés vis-à-vis du rôle de l’acteur dans un contexte institutionnel donné / The aim of the research is to understand how the actors involved in the governance of a meta-organization intervene in the emergence and maintenance of an institutional context favorable to trust in inter-organizational relations (IOR). Following a qualitative approach, we carried out two embedded case studies of clusters operating within the cultural and creative industries in France and Canada. Regarding the French case, we highlighted the difficulties of trust and later work by some actors aimed at adopting new boundaries that involves new sectors, which included the search for conciliation between economic needs and the spirit of artistic creation. As for the Canadian case, we highlighted the initial climate not propitious to trust and the subsequent institutionalization work of the idea that the cluster acts in the interest of the whole industry. We propose a conceptual framework to analyze the practices of creating and maintaining an institutional environment favorable to trust in IOR, within a structurational perspective (recursive relation institutions/action). We distinguish dimensions of the context, and two types of practices: of “activation” (actors intentionally call upon institutional elements considered as relevant to trust in the current interaction); and of "structuration" (actors gradually structure the institutional bases of trust for current and future interactions). In the conclusion, we propose elements for a "trust-related competence" as a capacity related to the deployment, in in a manner perceived as authentic, of behaviors related to trust and considered as appropriate regarding the role of the actor in a given institutional context

La présente thèse s'intéresse à l'évolution d'organisations à caractère démocratique ou ouvert, au travers de leur stabilité ainsi que d'autres caractéristiques comme leur capacité à fédérer, à satisfaire leurs membres ou pérenniser des situations de partage de risque entre agents hétérogènes. Les modèles proposés sont des modèles agents qui s'appuient sur une étude menée depuis 2004 par Juliette Rouchier sur les circuits courts agroalimentaires et particulièrement sur les Associations pour le Maintien d'une Agriculture Paysanne (AMAP) et leur structuration en réseaux d'AMAP à différentes échelles géographiques. La thèse suggère l'existence d'une tension entre la stabilité et la représentativité dans ce type d'organisations démocratiques et discute, dans plusieurs cas de figure, l'impact de différents facteurs sur cette tension comme le nombre de sujets discutés dans l'organisation, l'état d'esprit des membres, l'existence d'une communication structurée au sein de l'organisation, ou encore la répartition géographique des membres. Dans un second temps la thèse s'intéresse à des groupes de partage de risque entre agents hétérogènes, comme c'est le cas dans les AMAP entre producteurs et consommateurs. Elle suggère que l'apprentissage par les agents de leurs risques, c'est à dire de leurs préférences vis-à-vis des caractéristiques de leur organisation au cours du temps, pérennise un partage de risque complet entre des agents hétérogènes. De plus cet effet semble renforcé par l'introduction de préférences pour autrui, comme l'altruisme ou l'aversion aux inégalités. / This PhD thesis studies the evolution of organizations under democratic settings through their stability along with other characteristics like their representativeness, their capacity to satisfy their members or to ensure risk sharing agreement between heterogenous agents. Proposed models are agent based models grounded in a study, initiated by Juliette Rouchier in 2004, on short food chains and particularly on "Associations pour le Maintien d'une Agriculture Paysanne" (AMAP), the french equivalent of United States' Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) along with their structuration in AMAP' networks at different geographical levels. This PhD thesis suggests the existence of a tension between stability and representativeness under democratic settings and discusses, in different cases, the effect of several factors on this tension, like the number of topics discussed in the organization, the state of mind of members, the existence of structured communication, or the spatial repartition of members. In a second part, this Phd thesis deals with risk sharing groups between agents heterogenous in terms of risk exposures, as it is the case in AMAP between producers and consumers. It underlines how learning by agents of their risk exposures through times, which is equivalent here to constantly revise their preferences with respect to the characteristics of their organization, can stabilize risk-sharing groups mixing heterogenous agents and how this effect is strengthen by the introduction of other-regarding-preferences, like altruism or inequality aversion.

O trabalho passou por grandes transformações nos últimos quarenta anos, especialmente a partir do processo de reestruturação produtiva, que marcou a crise do taylorismo-fordismo e a disseminação do toyotismo, além de introduzir diversas mudanças na organização do trabalho. Esses acontecimentos atingiram intensamente os sindicatos, que vivenciaram uma crise com as mencionadas modificações que ocorriam no trabalho. Dentre os diversos desafios que se colocaram às entidades sindicais, mostrou-se relevante a necessidade de ampliação de suas bases de representação. Um dos possíveis caminhos apontados foi a organização dos trabalhadores informais. Nesse contexto, esta pesquisa examinou a atuação e a organização coletivas dos trabalhadores informais para a partir do estudo da crise dos sindicatos e dos conceitos de trabalhador informal analisar suas condições de viabilidade em face do ordenamento jurídico brasileiro. Considerando-se que as três principais formas para esse intento são os sindicatos, as cooperativas e as associações, foi realizado um exame das peculiaridades e das possibilidades jurídicas de cada uma dessas organizações associativas. Ainda, estudaram-se modos de interação dessas entidades, por meio da ação conjunta e da transversalidade. Por fim, tendo em vista os obstáculos criados pela legislação nacional para a organização coletiva dos trabalhadores informais e a complexidade para articular a atuação desses trabalhadores, conclui-se que o ordenamento jurídico brasileiro é inadequado e merece ser reformado para que seja um instrumento capaz de auxiliar e catalisar a ação coletiva dos trabalhadores informais. / Le monde du travail a subi par des grandes transformations aux dernières quatrevingt ans, spécialement dès le procès de restructuration productive, qui a marqué la crise du taylorisme-fordisme et la dissémination du toyotisme, des évènements qui ont introduit des changements dans lorganisation du travail. Cettes nouvelles perspectives ont rattrapé intensément les syndicats, qui ont expérimenté une crise avec les modifications dans lunivers du travail. Parmi les divers défis des entités syndicales, la nécessité daugmenter ses bases de représentation sest montrée cruciale. Une des chemins indiqués a été lorganisation des travailleurs informels. Dans ce contexte, cette recherche a examine lactuation et lorganisation collective des travailleurs informels pour analyser sa viabilité en face de lordre juridique brésilienne, à partir de létude de la crise des syndicats et des concepts du travailleur informel. En considérant que les trois principales formes pour cet objectif sont les syndicats, les coopératives et les associations, il a été observé les particularités et possibilités juridiques de chacune des organisations associatives. Également, les modes dinteraction des entités ont été étudiés; laction collective et la transversalité. En somme, en considérant les obstacles crées par la législation nationale pour lorganisation collective des travailleurs informels et la complexité pour articuler leur actuation, la conclusion du présent travail cest que lordre juridique brésilienne est inadéquate et doit être réformé pour quelle soit une outil capable daider et catalyser laction collectif des travailleurs informels.

Abstract and Keywords  The thesis concerns different conceptions of rationality and their implications for organisations, especially in the public sector. The focus is on performance management (as widely defined) within public sector organisations as a subject for exploring these issues. This has long been controversial because seemingly simplistic approaches to performance management persist, despite well recognised shortcomings, such as a tendency to perverse incentives and unintended outcomes.  Therefore, in the kappa, I analyse the notion of instrumental rationality, examine the established critique of instrumental rationality from a ‘political’ perspective and present the dilemma that this creates; i.e. how to improve processes of resource allocation and performance evaluation, while recognising organisational realities such as imbalances in power. The potential of communicative rationality as an alternative conceptualisation of rationality in organisations is then discussed.    The development of public sector management from the fiscal crises of the 1970s is explained, with the rise of the ‘New Public Management’ based on neo-liberal ideas, and the subsequent opposition to it from ‘New Public Governance’ and ‘New Public Services’ paradigms. These potentially give more scope to participative and deliberative processes of generating performance measurement packages and control systems. Moreover, in practice, particularly interesting examples of participatory approaches have been found in developing countries which align with communicative rationality. A critical position is adopted in the thesis, seeking to challenge ‘managerialist’ orthodoxies.  As a theoretical guide to understanding these issues, conceptual frameworks from the management control literature are used. Broadbent and Laughlin’s (2009) conceptual model of performance management systems has been of particular value. They draw on Weber and Habermas to distinguish between instrumental and communicative rationality models and between transactional and relational performance management systems. This enables them to identify two distinct ideal types of ‘rationality clusters’ (instrumental and communicative) to which organisations will incline. They also contend that contingent factors influence where actual organisations are located between these two ideal types.          7  The four papers I have selected for the licentiate from my various publications report on research carried out in three different public sector settings using different methods of investigation. Paper 1 considers the approaches to resource allocation and performance measurement then used by English Health Authorities at the time of writing. In Paper 2 an evaluation carried out at an English police service, utilising cost-consequences analysis, is described and discussed. Papers 3 and 4 concern a performance management regime for the English ambulance service, which became noted for promoting perverse incentives and ‘gaming’, and its subsequent replacement. The first two papers foreground issues of rationality and the last two issues of performance management; but these topics are interrelated and are relevant throughout. It is argued in all the papers that comprehensively ‘rationalistic’ approaches are flawed and that participation, deliberation and dialogue between stakeholders are desirable.

No description available.

Selon un bilan établi en 1998 par le Secrétaire général de l’O.N.U., l’Afrique est le continent le plus touché par les conflits. Aussi bien les Organisations Internationales que les Etats contribuent à apaiser les situations soit par la voie pacifique soit par le recours à la force armée. Le premier Président ivoirien avait fait du dialogue sa priorité en matière de résolution des conflits tant internes qu’internationaux. Plusieurs médiations avaient été menées par les autorités ivoiriennes à l’occasion de crises auxquelles étaient confrontés certains pays africains. La Côte d’Ivoire s’était attelée à trouver, par le dialogue, des solutions. Mais elle a également participé à des opérations de maintien de la paix. Le déclenchement de la crise ivoirienne a inversé les rôles. La Côte d’Ivoire a été l’objet de médiations ; des troupes étrangères ont été déployées dans le cadre d’une mission de maintien de la paix. Le dialogue utilisé à l’occasion des autres conflits africains a mis du temps à trouver une application effective. En tout état de cause, c’est par le dialogue que les acteurs politiques ivoiriens ont pu trouver des solutions aux problèmes de la Côte d’Ivoire. / According to an established assessment by the General Secretary of the UN in 1998, Africa is the most affected continent by conflicts. International organisations as well as States play a great part in alleviating conflict situations, either by the peaceful way or the recourse to the armed force. The former Ivorian president has made dialogue his priority, as far as, both internal and international conflicts ‘resolutions are concerned. Several mediations were led by Ivorian authorities at the time of crises with which some African countries were confronted. Côte d’Ivoire set out to find, through dialogue, solutions. But it also took part in peacekeeping operations. The Ivorian crisis outbreak reversed the roles. Côte d’Ivoire has been object of mediations. Some international armed forces have been deployed as part of peacekeeping mission. The dialogue used at the time of other African conflicts took time over finding an effective application. At all events, it is through dialogue that the Ivorian political actors were able to find solutions to the problems of Côte d’Ivoire.